http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7226687,00.html 'Arry's pretty much said that JD and Rafa will be fighting it out for a starting place in the first team. Tough one to call for me... Rafa seems to find space during a game even if he's not playing to great where as Defoe has looked like his old self since the start of this season. Really is a toss up and may have to depend on the type of defences we're playing against. If I had to choose though, think I'd have Rafa on the right cutting inside like the Arsenal game, as long as he cuts the moaning out and appreciates he's still playing week-in week-out. Line-ups would look like (I reckon): Friedel Walker, Kaboul, King, Ekotto Parker, Sandro Rafa, Luka, Bale Ade OR Friedel Walker, Kaboul, King, Ekotto Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale Defoe, Ade Modric on the right hand side isn't effective enough for me either, which strengthens my point of having Rafa in the 4-5-1. What would your choice be?
as you say i think it depends on which team we are playing.at the moment rafa is scoring,but Defoe seems to be rediscovering his scoring form.
Obviously depends on opposition but I expect 4-5-1 to be the main formation. Defoe is looking good but VDV is a class above and can make a goal out of nothing - you only have to look at his last two goals to see that
Looks like Lennon doesn't get a look in either way. His best form came after we signed Bentley, wonder if he will rise to this challenge?
I'd hope so mate, when he's on form he's brilliant and every fullback's nightmare. It's just as of late, he's been pretty much innefective.
Rafa all day long, different level to JD altogether. He's played for clubs way above the sorts of clubs that JD has played for, leaving aside Spurs in both cases. There's a reason for that, he's a better player. VDV is a better fnisher than JD, and has a better all round game, although to be fair to JD he has improved in the assists area this season. However both will get plenty of chances in big games if we have good Cup runs and keep on track for 4th.
Not even close for me - Rafa's a real quality player, Defoe's just an average premier league striker. About the sixth best England striker - says it all really. Neither can tackle or cover back so Defoe's only advantage is speed, whereas Rafa can do everything else better.
The question is who will score more. When it comes to providing goals i don't think one is any better than the other. Our strikers generally get supply from Modric and Bale. Over the season i'd say that Defoe would score more goals and he'll never leave Ade isolated up front, which is something VDV sometimes does when he's not getting the ball very often. 2 seasons ago we played 4-4-2 and ended up 4th as one of the highest scorers in the league. Last season, whilst VDV scored a fair share for a 'midfielder' it stifled our regular goal threat and we were one of the lowest scorers in the league. If we play Ade up on his own too much, whilst he's more equipped at that role, he'll still score a lot less. It's a no brainer for me. In games where it's considered we should win, we should be playing 2 up, that means Defoe. In more cautious encounters we should pick VDV so he can help the midfield out. It could just come down to Defoe at home, VDV away.
We struggled for goals even without VDV last season. When we got 4th teams had more of a go against us, which allowed us to counter attack with Bale and Lennon. That completely changed last season as even Man City were trying to grind out a draw with us.
Well that's the test. I understand that teams will defend more against us but only at WHL. We have to turn that caution into fear like Man United do.
Oh I agree. I just don't think Rafa was the only reason that we needed to play a different style last year.
I must be watching different players - does anyone think that Defoe could have scored the goal that Rafa scored on Sunday? He doesn't have the control, calmness in front of goal or even the positional awareness to get into the space in the first place. If we played more of a 4231 then Bale and VdV would be able to stay closer to Adebayor. 442 will always get over-run in midfield by any half decent team, esp with Defoe up front as he doesn't do enough work for me.
Well said PS. It's VDV over JD home and away, all day and evening long. Naturally, rotation, fitness excepted of course. JD gets the nod in the Europa lge, as VDV isn't registered ATM. But for the big Prem games, I would be amazed if JD was preferred to a fit VDV.
I think that VDV over Defoe all day long. I think another option is to get Lennon back in the team and Modric in the three man midfield. I think this allows us to play 4231 or switch to 433 if it isn't going well. Modric doesn't quite offer the same goal threat as VdV though which is a problem. Here is my view on it all. Would be great to get your opinions: http://fansinthestands.co.uk/2011/10/10/defoe-or-van-der-vaart-or-neither/
Absolutely right. Its more 4411 with VdV, but that isn't the point, the 4 in MF is, yes we had success when we finished 4th, I'm afraid thats not relevant today epileptic. As pointed out, our counterattacking has been sussed out with a very simple tactic...don't attack as much. Eventually those games become a MF battle, which we lose with 4. Arsenal overran us for large parts, fortunately they did nothing with that possession, with other teams that won't be the case. Most teams pack 5 in MF away, so 442 will only be used in isolated games imo. Unfortunately its the easiest formation to disable.
I'd say the answer is actually easier than it looks: Defoe for a 4-4-2, VDV for 4-2-3-1 However, there is a caveat for this: Walker played in the 4-4-2 with Lennon in front of him, Corluka in 4-2-3-1 - entirely because VDV doesn't track back, which would expose Walker.
